13 Days Primates & Wildlife Luxury Safari

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and Transfer to your Hotel

Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a professional driver-guide from Engabi Tours and Travel will warmly welcome you. After a short meet and greet, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe, where you’ll also receive a detailed briefing about your upcoming safari activities.
Accommodation Option: Hotel No. 5 / Best Western Premier Garden Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park and Rhino Tracking

After breakfast in Entebbe, your guide will drive you northwest toward Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area. The journey takes about five hours, with scenic stops along the way. A highlight of the drive is a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to Uganda’s only wild rhinos. Here you’ll take a guided walk with a ranger to track these endangered giants before enjoying lunch. In the afternoon, continue into Murchison Falls National Park and make a stop at the top of the falls, where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge with breathtaking force. After soaking in the views, you’ll head to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Option: Nile Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Full Day in Murchison Falls National Park-Game drive and boat cruise

Your day begins early at 6:30 am with a warm cup of coffee before setting off on a morning game drive accompanied by a park ranger. As the sun rises over Murchison Falls National Park, you’ll have the chance to spot elephants, buffalo, giraffes, lions, hyenas, Uganda kob, and topi grazing across the savannah. Return to the lodge in time to enjoy a hearty breakfast and relax before lunch. In the afternoon, proceed to Paraa for a three-hour boat cruise along the Nile, the world’s longest river. The cruise offers spectacular sightings of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and an array of water birds including fish eagles and giant kingfishers. Afterwards, disembark and take a guided hike to the top of the falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge in a dramatic display of nature’s power. Here, you’ll reunite with your driver and head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Option: Nile Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park the Home of Chimps in Uganda

After an early breakfast, you will set off for Kibale National Park, famous for its large population of chimpanzees. The drive takes you through Uganda’s beautiful countryside, offering plenty of scenic views and great photo opportunities along the way. You’ll stop for lunch en route before continuing to your lodge, where you’ll check in and spend the evening at leisure, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Option: Tabebuia Spa and Safari Resort / Chimpundu Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking experience and Bigodi Swamp Walk

After breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the guidelines for chimpanzee tracking. With the guidance of Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, you’ll venture into the forest to begin your search for these fascinating primates. Once you locate them, you’ll have up to one hour to observe their behavior and interactions in the wild. Later, return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, set out for Bigodi to enjoy an enriching cultural experience before returning to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Option: Tabebuia Spa and Safari Resort / Chimpundu Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and an Afternoon Game Drive

Start the day with an early breakfast before setting off for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes you through beautiful landscapes, and you’ll arrive in time to check in and enjoy lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon, head out on a game drive through the Kasenyi plains, an area known for its large herds of antelope and frequent lion sightings. As the sun sets over the savannah, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Option: Mweya Safari Lodge / Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Full day in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise)

After an early breakfast, set out on a morning game drive across the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is the best time to witness wildlife at its most active, with elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and gazelles grazing while predators stalk and chase their prey. Return to your lodge for a hot lunch and some relaxation before heading out again in the afternoon. Later, enjoy a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The cruise offers excellent sightings of hippos, elephants along the shores, and an impressive variety of bird species. Queen Elizabeth National Park remains one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations, rich in natural beauty and teeming with diverse animal life.
Accommodation Option: Mweya Safari Lodge / Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park

After breakfast, you’ll depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, traveling along the scenic Mbarara–Ishaka–Kabale route. You’ll arrive in time to check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch, followed by some relaxation before dinner and an overnight stay. For those interested, the evening offers an opportunity to visit the Batwa community for an enriching cultural experience.
Accommodation Option: Four Gorillas Lodge / Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge / Bwindi Lodge / Buhoma Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: First Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Experience

Today begins with an early breakfast before heading to the park headquarters, carrying a packed lunch for the day. Here, you’ll receive a detailed briefing on the guidelines for gorilla trekking before setting off into the dense forest. With the guidance of experienced rangers, you’ll track a gorilla family and spend an unforgettable hour observing their interactions, learning about their behavior, and taking in the magic of the jungle. After the trek, return to the headquarters to meet your driver for the transfer back to your lodge. In the evening, you may choose to relax at the lodge or take a guided community walk for a cultural experience, depending on your energy levels.
Accommodation Option: Four Gorillas Lodge / Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge / Bwindi Lodge / Buhoma Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After enjoying breakfast at the lodge, you’ll check out and begin your journey to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Along the way, you’ll stop at the beautiful Lake Mutanda for a peaceful canoe ride before continuing through the scenic highlands. You’ll arrive at the park in time to settle in, have lunch, and later enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Option: Bisate Lodge / One&Only Gorillas Nest / Wilderness Sabyinyo
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’wachu Cultural Experience

After breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the guidelines for gorilla trekking. Accompanied by expert rangers, you’ll then venture into the forest to track a gorilla family and, once found, spend a memorable hour observing them in their natural habitat. In the afternoon, you may choose to unwind at the lodge or visit the Iby’wachu Cultural Village for an enriching encounter with local traditions.
Accommodation Option: Bisate Lodge / One&Only Gorillas Nest / Wilderness Sabyinyo
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Kigali City

After an early breakfast, you’ll return to the park headquarters for your golden monkey tracking adventure. These rare primates are endemic to the high-altitude forests of the Albertine Rift and are best known for their lively behavior and large, active troops. Thanks to ongoing habituation, you’ll be able to watch them up close as they feed and play in the bamboo forest. The trek usually lasts three to four hours. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy lunch back at your lodge before setting off on a scenic drive to Kigali City, where you’ll spend the night.
Accommodation at: Kigali Serena Hotel / Marriott Hotel Kigali
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13: Transfer to the Kigali International Airport and Departure

Depending on your flight schedule, you can enjoy a relaxed morning at the lodge before checking out. When the time comes, your driver will transfer you to Kigali International Airport, arriving in time for check-in and departure, marking the close of your safari adventure. If your flight is later in the day, you may also opt for a Kigali city tour to explore more of the capital before heading to the airport.
Accommodation at: N/A
Meal plan: Breakfast